CHICAGO, Ill. – The Eastern Conference Finals started tonight in a ding-dong offensive battle as the Binghamton Senators won on road against the Charlotte Checkers by the score of 7-4. The first period alone saw a total of seven goals scored between the two teams. Neither starting goalie lasted half the game.
The score shouldn’t be a surprise for these two teams as the match well offensively but the blue line needed some help. Against each other this season there records were practically identical.
The AHL’s League MVP of the regular season, Corey Locke got the scoring started for Binghamton Senators as he scored his first of the playoffs at the 1:37 mark of the first with assists coming from Andre Benoit and Jared Cowen. Charlotte answered 29 seconds later as center Brad Herauf also got his first of the post-season with dishes from Riley Nash and Nicolas Blanchard. The Senators matched that just as quickly as Kaspars Daugavins potted his ninth 37 second later. Benoit added to that lead with a short-handed tick at 9:04.
AHL All-Rookie Team member Zac Dalpe scored to bring the Checkers within one at 11:12. Both teams then ended the scoring with a goal apiece on the power play as Bobby Butler scored at the 13:33 time with Nash doing the same for Charlotte at 17:54. They also got quality goals from the twelve shots fired from each team.
Barry Brust has now replaced Robin Lehner to start the middle frame for Binghamton. With an amazing quiet first half of the period, nothing entered the crease until right winger Roman Wick scored the eventual game-winner at 11:31 with helpers from Mike Hoffman and Cody Bass. Around this goal was when Mike Murphy was replaced by Justin Pogge. This was the only goal of the second.
In the third, the Charlotte Checkers got within one as left wing Oscar Osala scored on a Wick hooking penalty 6:25 in. But that is all she wrote for the Checkers as the Senators went on to put this game away by scoring two goals 25 seconds apart with Erik Condra notching a tallie at 10:03 and playoff leading scorer Ryan Potulny shutting the door for his playoff leading eleventh goal.
Charlotte launched 40 shots on net in the losing endeavor while the Senators were very efficient in their 22 shots.
The two teams turn right around Friday night in Charlotte as home team will try to even up the series.
Also on Friday, the Western Conference Final will begin as the Hamilton Bulldogs travel to Houston to face the Aeros at the Toyota Center. Even though the Bulldogs won their division, the Aeros had the better record to give them the home-ice advantage.
CONFERENCE FINALS Eastern Conference Finals CHARLOTTE vs. BINGHAMTON Binghamton leads series 1 – 0 Game 1 – Thu May 12 7:05 PM Binghamton 7, CHARLOTTE 4 Game 2 – Fri May 13 7:05 PM Binghamton at Charlotte Game 3 – Tue May 17 7:05 PM Charlotte at Binghamton Game 4 – Wed May 18 7:05 PM Charlotte at Binghamton Game 5 – Sat May 21 7:05 PM * Charlotte at Binghamton Game 6 – Mon May 23 7:05 PM * Binghamton at Charlotte Game 7 – Tue May 24 7:05 PM * Binghamton at Charlotte Western Conference Finals HOUSTON vs. HAMILTON Not yet started Game 1 – Fri May 13 7:35 PM Hamilton at Houston Game 2 – Sun May 15 4:05 PM Hamilton at Houston Game 3 – Tue May 17 7:30 PM Houston at Hamilton Game 4 – Wed May 18 7:30 PM Houston at Hamilton Game 5 – Fri May 20 7:30 PM * Houston at Hamilton Game 6 – Sun May 22 4:05 PM * Hamilton at Houston Game 7 – Tue May 24 7:05 PM * Hamilton at Houston
(* if necessary)
Contact the writer at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.